The male students, who are pursuing high school studies at Gilakaladindi, near Machilipatnam, are being initiated to fishing by their elders every Sunday and holidays. Despite the students have their own dreams in their career; the village elders have felt a need to teach their children basics and methods of fishing on the seawaters as well as backwaters.
Initially, the students above 12 years of age would be asked to ride and manage the countrymade boat (non-engine) with push-pole (stick) during the training sessions. However, most of the training is given on the backwater channels of the Bay of Bengal in and around the village. “The students will basically have an understanding about the water movements and learn techniques in riding the boat in different weather conditions,” P. Brahmam, a fisherman, told The Hindu . Considering fishing and boating skills as an important education one has to learn in fishermen community, the school goers are encouraged to spend most of the time on the fishing on their weekend. According to students, those who recently initiated into fishing and boating near Gilakaladindi harbour, they spend at least four to five hours a day on Sunday. However, they would not be allowed to accompany the fishermen on the mechanised boats. On Sunday, the male students were seen busy riding the countrymade boat and fishing on the waters within the areas, covering Gilakaladindi harbour surroundings, boat building centre and the village surroundings, which all together come above 5-km distance. The temporary and season-based professional training by the community elders ensures them first hand knowledge about seawater conditions, fishing techniques and life of fishermen on the troubled waters.
